Pols who left us in 2012

From a legendary liberal icon whose presidential run failed miserably to a conservative budget hawk who crafted a groundbreaking deficit reduction deal, 2012 saw the death of a number of political giants. (Former Democratic Rep. Ed Jenkins of Georgia, 78, died on January 1. A photo was not available.)

New Hampshire Sen. John Durkin, 76, Oct. 16

Durkin, a Democrat, won his single term in the Senate after one of the closest elections in the history of the upper chamber. A recount showed him leading his Republican opponent by a mere 10 votes when the Senate decided to vacate the seat and order New Hampshire to hold a special election. Durkin won a rematch.